Bengals grant Brandon LaFell his release

The Cincinnati Bengals have released wide receiver Brandon LaFell after two seasons with the team.

LaFell started to lag behind in training camp this month. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that LaFell asked for his release:

The #Bengals are cutting WR Brandon LaFell, his agent Jonathan Feinsod tells me. “We have been lobbying for his release for some time now and appreciate the Bengals granting our request,” Feinsod said.

Marvin Lewis said this week LaFell was “feeling the heat” of the other receivers and that they could only keep so many. Might’ve been a flare to the rest of the league that LaFell was available. But he’s free to sign elsewhere when the transaction goes through today.

Though the 31-year-old LaFell was hailed as a leader in the locker room, cutting him makes the heated roster battle at the team’s deepest position simplier. It also gives LaFell a chance to latch on somewhere that needs him right away.